Rain Run Fun

Saturday morning my alarm went off at 7am. I woke up to the one sound I didn’t want to hear on the morning of a long run. Rain. I wanted so badly to stay in my warm bed, with my cat purring in my ear to lull me back to sleep. Instead, I got myself up, gathered my things, and set out for the hour drive to my race destination.

I enjoy running in the rain. I run better, I run faster, and I run happier. HOWEVER, I don’t like starting a run when it’s already been raining. When it’s already raining that mean’s it’s cold, and it’s wet. Basically I need to already be running before the rain starts. I say this now, but always end up loving the rain runs regardless. Naturally I wore something to protect me from the elements.

Gloves and a headband. Oh and a short sleeve shirt..because I am probably the only runner in Washington that gets hot on a 40 degree run. The wait before the run was cold, and wet. This was going to be my first solo long race. I arrived early, got my running number, and couldn’t help but want to go home.

Umm..wtf is this? Had I known it would have been such a hassle to print off running numbers without any identification of the race, I would have taped a piece of computer paper to my chest to save them the 2 bucks. I paid almost $40 for this race, you’d think the running ID’s would be a LITTLE better than just a 5 and a 6 slapped onto a white sheet of paper. If I were in charge it would have looked more like this.

Much better

Anyway, I grabbed my number and there had to be maybe 10 cars waiting with me. TEN..this was a race..WHERE were all the people!? It didn’t take me long to figure out this was a small race. I don’t like small races. I had over an hour to kill, and had to sit in my car watching the rain fall because it was wet, and there weren’t many people to talk to. Still kind of wanting to go home..

I had one of two choices: I could either suck it up, run this race alone and be bored and soaked, or I could call and beg someone to come run with me, not be bored, and still get soaked. I chose the latter.

My friend lives 4 miles from where the race was, and happened to have a free schedule for the day. He showed up and ran this race with me, and it was one of the BEST run’s we’ve had to date! I have to say, this was a very unorganized race..but we made the best of it and had a blast. Not only did we run 10 miles with a good amount of hills, but I cut 10 minutes off my previous 10 mile PR. We finished 10.2 miles in 1:45:46, and the 10 miles in 1:43:46.

I didn’t care about the rain, I didn’t care about the hills, I didn’t care about the woman that had no idea how to run an aid station and had us pouring our own Gatorade, I didn’t care about the lack of organization, I didn’t care about the awful running ID, all I cared about was having a fun time.

After the run we had to stop at the store to get food. I saw this meal on another blog and had my mind set on this post race carb feast. Please excuse the photo quality, I needed calories more than I needed a good photo.

If you have access to a car, drive to the store right now. Buy a sweet potato and a can of baked beans. Your life will be changed. As if this meal wasn’t enough, I was later surprised with vegan ice cream and Oreo’s to make my own vegan friendly dessert. I swooned. Whoa long post..almost done.

So what’s the moral of this story? Don’t be a race snob like I was, a run is a run is a run. It doesn’t matter if it’s a huge event with 17,000 people (Disneyland Half) or if it’s a small run with 40 people. We are all coming together for a common hobby, and that is to enjoy a good, solid, hard run. Would I have enjoyed this race as much if I were alone? No, but I got lucky having someone right around the corner. Let’s be real though, this running number doesn’t really fit in on the running wall.

hahaha

Q: Have you ever been somewhere and wanted to leave, only to realize you needed to suck it up and either call for backup or enjoy the opportunity? I wouldn’t have left this race, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun had I been alone.

42 thoughts on “Rain Run Fun”

way to go, rain totally makes me want to curl up. you made the best out of it by calling a friend, I would have never thought of that. also that race number is kind of janky, should have been warned at that point you were in for some disorganization. I just hate that when you pay money for it.

I LOVE this!!! You are amazing Bittany and an inspiration to anyone who can’t quite get out in that rain..I’m with you (and many runners I think) — it is SO hard to get out when it is pouring…but once out there, wow, those can be the best runs of our lives. Amazing!

You two are seriously the cutest. Good for you for following through despite wanting to ditch several times. I love running in the rain as well. Here’s the question, though: does one get wetter walking in the rain or running in the rain…?

Holy. Guac. Amole. I cannot in my entire life imagine signing up and paying money to run (but I get you running girls and I like reading the race re-caps by my blog interests) however, I REALLY REALLY muthfu REALLY cannot imagine being called in the morning and just…you know deciding to go run 10 spontaneus miles. In rainy weather.
You both are rock stars. No – better than rock stars

However I may be more impressed by your “thin waist” <-0-0- LMAO.
That's the real accomplishment here after all. WTF. lol.

Those were HORRIBLE bibs. I like the way you added words….. seriously, where was this race? Don’t the organizers knows that runners freak out over pretty crazy bibs and keep them like they are the secret grail and extremely valuable????

Um YOU ARE FREAKIN AWESOME. This is SO weird that posted this b/c on Sunday, Mr. Speedy and I had our race (the 10k after the marathon) and it was RAINING. We both looked at each other and opted to stay snuggled up under the covers rather than go running. In our defense though, we are both pretty sore from the marathon and I forgot my shoes at my house and well… running in ballet flats would have been dangerous.

Basically, moral of the story, you are way more hardcore than I. You and manfriend are my favoritest couple. You even beat out Popeye and Olive and…. I love them.

I KNOW RIGHT!?! Serious holy grail status on the running bib’s..such a disappointment. I am so glad you chose to stay in bed and snuggle til the sun came up, ballet flats cannot be destroyed and snogging is wayy better than running.

“One of these things is NOT like the other things, one of these things just doesn’t belong…” Please tell me you remember that song from Sesame Street 😀 I couldn’t help but laugh when looking at your running wall and seeing that goofy 56. Talk about cutting corners. Sorry to hear that the whole organization thing was kind of a bust, but that’s freaking amazing that you ended up having a good run anyways. And congrats on the PR!

Nice going on the run, Britt! I am a baby when it comes to running outside and am sure the rain would have scared me off haha! It’s funny because no matter how different racing conditions may be, they all bring about the same result: a major runners’ high…and a hella good reason to load up on carbs ;)!

Oh my goodness the picture of the number bib on your running wall is hilarious! I love this post, it is so well written and as a runner I found it really enjoyable to read. I have never participated in a small race, but I can totally understand your initial disappointment. I am glad you called over company 🙂

Congrats on a successful run and beating your PR! I love the picture of your runner ID along with all of your other more “professional” ones..too funny! And seriously, you had to pour your own Gatorade? Man, that’s intense!

That meal, by the way, looks amazing! I would never think to combine a sweet potato with baked beans, but seeing as how I LOVE both I will definitely be trying that!

I looooove playing in the rain!! I seriously turn into the terminator on the soccer field when it rains. I never get tired, I never slow down and I never give up. For some reason, rain energizes me 🙂
Congrats on kicking booty girl. Im glad your manfriend was there to run with you through the rain!

hahahaha! YOU DID IT!!! CONGRATS ON THE AMAZING TIME!!!!!!!!!! LOVE THIS! I would have done the same thing as you! Except I dont have a manfriend.. so I probably would have left. Okay, probably not, but I would have REALLY wanted to! YouR bib KILLS me!! bahahaha It has to be DA BEST THING EVA!!! SO GREAT! I am glad you had such a great time regardless of the weather and everything else! I am sure you will remember this race more than some of your previous ones!!! wooohooo!!!

ps.. how am I basically the LAST person to comment on this?!?!?! Bad bloggie friend I am.

caloricandcrazy

There’s a great moral to your story 🙂
Yes, I’ve definitely almost bailed a million times on stuff…and then ended up being glad I stuck with it. Those times (where the expectations do not seem to be living up to the vision) often end up being the most fun in the end!
p.s. I love your version of your race number…next race, bring a sharpie! 🙂

BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalist "granola" striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, strong relationships, exploration, lots of broccoli, and laughing like it's my J.O.B. Currently living and working in Germany, join me on my adventures abroad!

Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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